04 May 2012

An appeal has been launched to find real-life stories from Britain’s rural women to explore how their roles have changed over the past 60 years.

April 2012 Countyside front coverCountryside magazine, one of the NFU’s flagship magazines, is celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by exploring a number of themes, including conservation, access, the ‘Good Life’ and the land. Readers are being asked to get involved by sending in their thoughts on how they think life has changed in the countryside since Her Majesty’s coronation in 1953.

Countryside editor Martin Stanhope said: “My grandmother was a Land Girl who met my farming grandfather during the war and their partnership was instrumental in building the family farming business in the post-war years. But it’s fascinating to see how those roles have evolved, from one primarily of home-maker to the much more hands-on decision-making positions held by today’s rural women.

“So we’re really keen to hear the stories of today’s country women – or their families – and how they first got involved in farming, what obstacles or prejudice they encountered, and their hopes for the future.”

Readers are being asked to get involved by sending in their thoughts on how they think life has changed in the countryside since Her Majesty’s coronation in 1952.

Anyone who would like to contribute should email around 150 words to martin.stanhope@nfu.org.uk by May 31.